Exaltation Without Nomination

Al Gore has won the Nobel Prize for Peace, and his Fred Thompson-like candidacy is supposed to now gain steam. Not that Gore has been a shameless exploiter of his position, like the former senator and actor was before finally throwing his hat in the ring. Gore has consistently rejected all notions that he'd run for the Democratic nomination, and tries to assure all that he'll stay a public statesman and raise issues he cares about.

However much Gore would like to convince the world (or maybe even himself) that he's done with national politics, there is a vibrant movement that wants to adopt Gore as a candidate for president. Msnbc.com has an interesting piece about die hard Goridians (yes, as in Floridians) who want to convince the liberal lion to run. They believe he's a new man and has the resume to challenge Senators Clinton, Obama and Biden, yet has the executive experience to thwart anything the Republicans throw his way.

It's great to see citizens motivated by an individual as such. Al Gore does bring a fresh sense of liberalism that isn't as calculating as Senator Clinton's, yet as drenched in ideal naivete as Senator Obama's. The former is as Charles Krauthammer perfectly describes: We can stand a Clinton presidency because she stands for nothing. The latter, the danger of executive inexperience, coupled with pie-in-the-sky dreams, can lead to a Carter-like term; a harsh realization of what it takes to lead creates inertia, then malaise. Gore can strive beyond that, and guide the nation into a new international system that calls for innovative domestic policies.

No doubt, Gore falls in that unfortunate group of presidential candidates who were more than qualified to win, but due to outside factors, basically politics, came just short. From New York Governor Al Smith to Senator John Kerry, there will always be shining examples of the should haves. Gore's painful 2000 loss is the stuff nightmares are made of: To be on the cusp of victory, then suddenly finding oneself as far back as Dennis Kucinich.

Still, if Gore wants to run, it has to be his decision. A committee cannot compel him to change his mind because it wants to. We're electing a king for four years, and this king is going to have to serve thousands of pancakes in Iowa, kiss even more babies in New Hampshire, and go hunting with union reps in Michigan before being crowned. It's considered the humbling of vain individuals who believe enough in themselves to lead the most powerful and wealthiest nation the world has yet known.

A Nobel Peace Prize notwithstanding, Gore's going to have to buck up and play. Yet, to get into the game now only shows him to be using the same prize awarded to men like Gandhi and Reverend King for political purposes. Gore should remain on the sideline, and await a Clinton win. Then, as the Clinton team prepares its cabinet, just remember where you heard it first: Al Gore will head the Environmental Protection Agency.